Heritage Walking Trail
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HOW TO GET TO ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS Royal Tunbridge Wells takes less than an hour by train from London (Charing Cross) and Hastings, and regular, direct services run from both daily. The Pantiles is a five minute walk from the railway station. The town is a half hour drive from the M25 and M20 and a pleasant drive from the Channel ports. Ample car parking is available in the town. This leaflet can be made available in large print and on audio cassette. Telephone: 01892 554229. Cover Image: An engraving of the Pantiles in 1748 after a painting by Thomas Loggan from Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery. Selected historic images courtesy of Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery and The Historical Graphical Record of Tunbridge Wells Society, found at www.royaltunbridgewells.org www.visittunbridgewells.com HERITAGE WALKING TRAIL For further information about Royal Tunbridge Wells WALKING THROUGH 400 YEARS OF HISTORY and the surrounding area, contact: A special Heritage Walking Trail through Royal Tunbridge Wells Royal Tunbridge Wells Tourist Information Centre th Old Fish Market, The Pantiles in celebration of the 400 Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5TN Anniversary of the discovery of the Chalybeate Spring Tel: 01892 515675 (24 hour answering service) e-mail: [email protected]; or visit our website: www.visittunbridgewells.com Tunbridge Wells Borough Council accepts no responsibility for accidents or injuries incurred as a result of following this walk. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this brochure, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council cannot accept responsibility for any errors, omissions or subsequent changes. Published by the Marketing & Tourism Development Service of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council © 2006 Designed & Produced by jam|marketing communications 2006 is a special year for Royal Tunbridge Wells. It marks the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the Chalybeate Spring by a young nobleman, Dudley Lord North in 1606. The discovery of the Spring was fundamental in the birth of Tunbridge Wells and its subsequent development as a favoured resort of the gentry and royalty during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and later in forming the town’s character and reputation as a pleasant place to live, work and visit. The Chalybeate Spring, Dunorlan Park, 1793 1872 Throughout the past 400 years, has been erected to mark buildings with a symbol. The walk takes Royal Tunbridge Wells has attracted of particular significance in the around two hours (blue route). For visitors and residents of all walks of town’s history. The stories behind a shorter walk of one hour, follow life, many of which have played an those persons featured on the the purple line leading from the important role in the history and plaques are described here and main route. You can begin at any development of the town itself. To linked together, along with other point on the route, but The Corn celebrate this important birthday points of interest, in this special Exchange (1), or the Museum (15) and the lives of these notable fig- Anniversary Heritage Walking Trail. are suggested as the best starting ures in the history of Royal points. Tunbridge Wells, a series of com- Each point along the route, which memorative claret-coloured plaques incorporates a plaque, is marked We wish you a pleasant promenade. THE PLAQUES 63a MT SION VICTORIA LODGE Eleven notable figures from history Richard Cumberland Decimus Burton with connections with Royal Playwright & Novelist Architect Tunbridge Wells are commemorated in this series of special plaques. 8 Cumberland Walk and 12 This sandstone gate is one Their stories are told in more detail Cumberland Gardens of three entrances to here, and the plaques themselves through which you have just walked are named after Calverley Park. To your right as you come through Richard Cumberland, playwright, leading local resi- the gateway you will catch a glimpse of Calverley can be discovered by following this dent and civil defence activist in the Napoleonic era. Park Crescent, also part of Decimus Burton’s ‘new special 400th Anniversary Heritage Nos 45-63 Mt Sion are built on the site of his house. town’. The colonnade, which once boasted 17 Cumberland also served as Secretary to the Board of shops, is now private houses. Decimus Burton Walking Trail (overleaf) which links Trade in the late 18th century. became an architect of national importance during the 19th century, best known for his work in Regent’s together all the plaques, as well as Park and in Hyde Park in London. other points of interest in the town. 40/46 THE PANTILES 1 CALVERLEY PARK HOTEL DU VIN & Richard ‘Beau’ Nash Lord Dowding BISTRO Leader of Fashion Air Chief Marshall Queen Victoria 3 Richard ‘Beau’ Nash, a 11 One of the town’s heroes, 13 The building now home to well-known dandy and Air Chief Marshall Lord the Hotel du Vin was leader of fashion in the eighteenth century, became Dowding, lived at No 1. Calverley Park. Lord Dowding remodelled by Decimus Burton in 1840 from Mount self-appointed Master of Ceremonies at Tunbridge was Commander-in-Chief of RAF Fighter Command Pleasant House (later Calverley House), said to have Wells, presiding over balls and gaming in the former from 1936-1940, including during the Battle of been built in 1762. Mount Pleasant House was used Assembly Rooms at Nos 40-46. Nash split his time Britain, and retired to Royal Tunbridge Wells until his as a residence by the Duchess of Kent and Princess between Tunbridge Wells and the town’s eighteenth death in 1970. Victoria (later Queen Victoria) on their visits to century rival, Bath. Tunbridge Wells during the 1820s and 1830s. Princess Victoria also attended church services at King Charles the Martyr Church (see 34 on map). A brass plaque marks her seat in the upper gallery. Thomas Bayes Dr John Mayo Air Chief Marshall Lord Dowding Mathematician, inventor of Bayesian statistics Prominent medical doctor in the 18th century Commander-in-Chief, Fighter Command THACKERAY’S 10 EARL’S ROAD 69 LONDON ROAD William Makepeace EM Forster Rev Thomas Bayes Thackeray Novelist Mathematician & Novelist Non-conformist minister 18 William Makepeace 24 The well-known writer 30 The well-known mathemati- Thackeray, author of ‘Vanity and author of works such cian and inventor of Fair’ amongst others, lodged and wrote in this little as ‘A Room with a View’, ‘A Passage to India’ and Bayesian statistics Rev Thomas Bayes lived here for tile-hung house, then known as Rock Villa and now a ‘Howard’s End’ lived here from 1898-1901 as a 30 years. His work is still used today in a wide range restaurant. Staying at the house for an extended young man and attended school in nearby of applications including the social sciences, ecolo- period, his works include an essay about Tunbridge Tonbridge. gy, computing and the justice system. Wells, and part of his novel, ‘The Virginians’ is set in the town. Thackeray also spent part of his childhood in the town, staying at a cottage on the Common (see 19). MAYO HOUSE THE CHALET, JORDAN HOUSE, Dr John Mayo 86 MT EPHRAIM 68 LONDON ROAD Medical Doctor Edmund Nye & Humphrey Burrows Snr. Thomas Barton Humphrey Burrows Jnr. Producers of Tunbridge ware Producers of Tunbridge ware 23 A prominent medical doc- 25 This charming long white 31 Jordan, a leading Baptist tor in the late 18th and early building was the workshop of the town is thought to 19th centuries, Dr John Mayo and his son Thomas of Nye and Barton, leading exponents of the have made Tunbridge ware here and later Humphrey (not linked to the American Mayos) had their prac- Tunbridge ware souvenir industry, for 58 years. Burrows and his son (also Humphrey), manufactured tice in this house. Intricate wooden marquetry often depicting local and sold the intricate wooden ware from this places of interest, Tunbridge ware is unique to this black-columned house during the first half of the area and became very popular in the 19th century. 19th century. Examples can be found in the Tunbridge Wells Museum and sometimes in some of the local antique shops. EM Forster Decimus Burton Richard ‘Beau’ Nash Renowned novelist of ‘A Passage to India’ & others Nationally recognised architect 18th century leader of fashion Each of the eleven commemorative plaques is marked on the map [Leave by the way of Meadow Hill Road and cross Grove Hill Road into with a symbol. Further details of each featured person are found Mountfield Gardens and on into Calverley Grounds.] overleaf. 10. CALVERLEY GROUNDS This town centre park has much to offer. The scented lavender beds, the 1. CORN EXCHANGE sunken Italian Garden, the ‘Golden Jubilee’ rose beds (each rose chosen Sarah Baker, a dancer and flamboyant personality of her day, had a for its royal connections) and bowling green, lie amongst the rolling hills theatre built on the Lower Walk of the Pantiles in 1801. It later became of this park. For those in need of refreshment, there is also a café in the the Corn Exchange and the Goddess of the Harvest still stands above grounds. the building which is as bustling as ever with shops and a café. [Continue through the grounds as far as the entrance to the private road – [With the Corn Exchange behind you, turn left and stroll along the Lower Walk Calverley Park. Walk straight ahead and stop outside at No1, the first driveway then climb the steps back on to the Upper Walk of The Pantiles and commence on the right.] your promenade strolling the full length of the colonnade. Pause in front of the restaurant at Nos 70/72.] 11.